A man was arrested in Cape Coral on Tuesday after being accused of violently pinning a cat to the ground and punching it repeatedly. According to the Cape Coral Police Department, on Tuesday evening, officers responded to a report from the suspect’s girlfriend, who stated that she had caught him on video beating up her cats.Officers met with the girlfriend down the street, who told them that she had seen, via installed home security cameras, her boyfriend punching her cat while she was away from the residence.CCPD said on Monday night, the caller noticed one of her cats had injuries, including an injured leg. She asked her boyfriend, Travis Fehr, 27, what happened, and he told her that the two cats had gotten into a fight, which is how the cat was injured.Suspicious of Fehr’s explanation, the caller set up a home security camera in the room where the cats usually stay, CCPD said. While she was not home, she said she saw on video Fehr pull one of the cats out from under the bed, hold it to the ground, and punch it multiple times, CCPD said.CCPD officers reviewed the video footage and said they saw notable injuries to the cat, including blood in and around its mouth. Girlfriend speaks outIn an exclusive interview, Libby Kastle said she asked her Fehr, about the injuries, she says he blamed the cats, and said they had been fighting.“But it just didn’t sit right with me,” she told us. “I know cats. I’ve had five before. It just wasn’t adding up.”So she set up a camera. And while working a DoorDash shift the next day, her phone sent a notification. The live video showed something she says she’ll never be able to unsee. Gulf Coast News blurred the video, but warned viewers the footage is graphic, and some viewers may find it very disturbing. “I saw it live from my car,” she said. “And now I can’t stop seeing it — it just keeps playing in my head.”Gulf Coast News was there as Kastle took her two cats to Indian Creek Pet Hospital. Scrumph suffered a broken leg, and needs sugery. Joy has trauma to her eye and mouth. Kastle says the vet bills are already piling up, but she’s just grateful her cats are alive.Fehr faces a charge of aggravated animal cruelty, which is a third-degree felony.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
A man was arrested in Cape Coral on Tuesday after being accused of violently pinning a cat to the ground and punching it repeatedly.
According to the Cape Coral Police Department, on Tuesday evening, officers responded to a report from the suspect’s girlfriend, who stated that she had caught him on video beating up her cats.
Officers met with the girlfriend down the street, who told them that she had seen, via installed home security cameras, her boyfriend punching her cat while she was away from the residence.
CCPD said on Monday night, the caller noticed one of her cats had injuries, including an injured leg. She asked her boyfriend, Travis Fehr, 27, what happened, and he told her that the two cats had gotten into a fight, which is how the cat was injured.
Suspicious of Fehr’s explanation, the caller set up a home security camera in the room where the cats usually stay, CCPD said.
While she was not home, she said she saw on video Fehr pull one of the cats out from under the bed, hold it to the ground, and punch it multiple times, CCPD said.
CCPD officers reviewed the video footage and said they saw notable injuries to the cat, including blood in and around its mouth.
Girlfriend speaks out
In an exclusive interview, Libby Kastle said she asked her Fehr, about the injuries, she says he blamed the cats, and said they had been fighting.
“But it just didn’t sit right with me,” she told us. “I know cats. I’ve had five before. It just wasn’t adding up.”
So she set up a camera. And while working a DoorDash shift the next day, her phone sent a notification. The live video showed something she says she’ll never be able to unsee. Gulf Coast News blurred the video, but warned viewers the footage is graphic, and some viewers may find it very disturbing.
“I saw it live from my car,” she said. “And now I can’t stop seeing it — it just keeps playing in my head.”
Gulf Coast News was there as Kastle took her two cats to Indian Creek Pet Hospital.
Scrumph suffered a broken leg, and needs sugery. Joy has trauma to her eye and mouth. Kastle says the vet bills are already piling up, but she’s just grateful her cats are alive.
Fehr faces a charge of aggravated animal cruelty, which is a third-degree felony.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.